Violence/Safety
Violence and safety: disparities and resources
Violence is a significant issue in the LGBT community. Statistics
demonstrate that LGBT people are among the most frequent victims of hate
crimes and violence; these crimes occur in many settings, including
schools and colleges, the armed services, jails and prisons, homes, work
places, and public places. Additionally, studies suggest LGBT people have
higher lifetime risks of sexual assault and equal or higher rates of domestic
violence than their heterosexual counterparts. Data from Wisconsin are consistent with these findings. For example,
when compared to their heterosexual counterparts,
LGBT youth are:
- almost 3 times as likely to be forced into sex;
- over 2 times as likely to be hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by
their boyfriend or girlfriend;
- almost 5 times as likely not to go to school, to feel unsafe at school or on
their way to or from school; and
- over 5 times as likely to be in a physical fight resulting in an injury
requiring medical treatment.
LGBT adults are:
- 5 times as likely to be punched, slapped, hit, or kicked by a
boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner; and
- 6 times as likely to be afraid for their safety.
Violence is of particular concern in the LGBT community, because the
stigma that can accompany violence and victimization makes it less likely that they
will receive adequate care for their injuries.
The following resources are intended to address violence/safety health issues
and disparities affecting the LGBT community.
All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the
benefit of the general public. The Department of Health Services does not
testify to, sponsor, or endorse the accuracy of the information provided
on externally linked pages.
Hyperlinks marked with the 
icon indicate Wisconsin resources.
AARDVARC (An
Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection)
Description: Information on domestic violence in gay and lesbian
relationships, including state laws and how to recognizing and reacting to
abuse and locate resources
Resource availability: Internet
Anti-Violence
Project
Description: Victim advocacy, community outreach, and service provider
education program at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
Resource availability: Milwaukee
Dane County Rape Crisis Center
Description: Crisis intervention and support (24 hour Crisis Line and
on-call Advocate/Counselors), short-term counseling, support groups,
therapy groups, medical/legal advocacy and accompaniment, community
education, and self-defense training to survivors of sexual assault and
their families
Resource availability: Dane County
The Network
Description: Information about ending domestic violence in lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender women's communities
Resource availability: Internet, Massachusetts
Gay Men's Domestic Violence Program
Description: Information and statistics on domestic violence in gay
men
Resource availability: Internet, Massachusetts
Gay Straight Alliance for
Safe Schools
Description: Leadership development for youth and skill development
for GSA advisors and other secondary school educators
Resource availability: South Central Wisconsin, Internet
Lesbian
Partner Violence Fact Sheet
Description: Definitions, statistics, and legal information about
domestic violence between lesbian women; published by the National
Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center at the University of
Missouri at St. Louis
Resource availability: Internet
Northwest Network
Description: LGBT information and support regarding abuse and
violence (based in Seattle, WA)
Resource availability: Internet
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National
Network
Description: Information about the sexual assault, including the
listing for the National Sexual Assault Hotline
Resource availability: National, Internet
StopBullying.gov
Description: Information from various government agencies on how
kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators and others in the community
can prevent or stop bullying.
Resource availability: Internet
Transgender
Sexual Violence Project Description
Description: Resources, including information, support groups, and a
listserv, for transgender individuals and others who are not served by
other sexual violence response systems; hosted by FORGE
Resource availability: Milwaukee, Internet
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual
Assault
Description: Information and support regarding sexual assault
Resource availability: Wisconsin
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic
Violence
Description: Information and support regarding domestic violence
Resource availability: Wisconsin
Last Revised: December 28, 2012 |
